Grandparents Visitation Bill Wins House Approval

For three years, Diana Clark-Hall was a steadfast presence in her young grandson's life. From feeding to potty training to putting him to bed at night, she was his primary caregiver.

But since a falling out with her daughter, Clark-Hall has been prevented from spending time with the boy. "Now I don't get to see my grandson and it's just not fair,'' she said.

House Bill 7244, which cleared the House of Representatives by an overwhelming margin on Monday, would give grandparents such as Clark-Hall the legal right to visitation with their grandchildren.

"This is a great bill,'' said Rep. Minnie Gonzalez, D-Hartford. "It really takes care of the grandparents."

The bill would allow grandparent of a minor grandchild to petition a court for visitation, provided the child's parents are not living together. The court would be required to approve the request if it finds that the child's parents or guardians are "unreasonably depriving" the grandparent of the opportunity to visit with the child.

"This is really historic for Connecticut," said Emidio C. Cerasale, director of the Grandparents Rights Association of Connecticut.

Cerasale, who watched debate from the House gallery, said activists have pressed for years for passage a grandparents' rights bill. The measure will not help him see his grandchildren because it only applies in cases where the custodial parents do not live together, but he was nevertheless overcome with joy. "I've got tears in my eyes,'' he said.

Rep. Mike France, R-Ledyard, predicted that the bill would help strengthen families.

"Having this ability for a grandparent to petition the court and have the court make a judgment based on what's in the best interest of the child is a prudent step,'' France said.